by Kirby Lindsay, posted 20 November 2013
Voting has opened for Fremont’s Best. Everyone with an e-mail address is encouraged to send in their choices for Fremont’s Best Resident, Fremont’s Best Business and Fremont’s Best Organization/Project in 2013. Votes will be accepted, at instigator@box2219.temp.domains, until midnight, December 31st.
All us being Fremont, many voters may wait until the last moment… But, consider a new path. Read through the happenings shared on Fremocentrist.com over the last 11 months. Read about the people, and events, that made Fremont Best this year – and e-mail your vote for who made the biggest difference in our community in 2013.
January
Fremont started off on the best foot imaginable, with an event to honor Martin Luther King Jr and service, organized by Ralph & Sarah Weathers (column #894.) Unfortunately, January also began with the story of Rose Cornicello, and other seniors who reside at Fremont Place, and the saga about their malfunctioning elevator (#893.)
Readers met businesses like Itex, a bartering service (#892,) Absolute Security Alarms (#891,) Atlas Clothing (#900,) and Todd Olsen of Progressive Strength (#898.) Fremont’s hospital Swedish/Ballard also introduced itself (#901,) and Dr. Amy Deans shared tips to avoiding the flu (#895.)
Seattle7Writers held a day-long writing workshop at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center (#896,) and the Boy Scouts held their annual fundraising breakfast at Woodland Park Zoo (#899.)
February
The Fremont Neighborhood Council started their year (#902) working to get signal boxes painted (with the help of Urban ArtWorks,) and protected against graffiti. The Fremont Chamber of Commerce began (#904) with its bi-annual community grant dispersal – funding multiple non-profit organizations and projects.
At The Backdoor, Savor The Sound held a fundraiser for music programs in local preschools (#903.) Stone Soup Theatre brought Tennessee Williams back to Fremont (#906 & #913,) while The World Is Fun showed everyone a good time, and a great cause, with their Beard & ‘Stache Festival (#909.) Our local Toastmasters continued to help people improve their public speaking (#907.) The Rotary Club of Fremont welcomed Thuch Malual’Deng into our community, and he shared his journey from South Sudan (#911.) And the Irish culture arrived in Fremont, and Doric Lodge #92, with a monthly Ceili (#912.)
This year also held more meetings on the coming King County Fremont Siphon Replacement Project, and the annual Hop Scotch Spring Beer & Spirits Festival, produced by Bold Hat (#910.)
March
The Alzheimer’s Association shared tips and guides for dealing with dementia (#914,) and the significant role faith plays in it (#917.) From the Bastyr Clinic of Natural Health, Dr. Benjamin Apichai shared information about eating healthier (#919,) and Kelly Morrow gave reasons to cut back on soda pop consumption (#925.) And the King County EnviroStars program introduced readers to businesses committed to environmentally-friendly practices, including Superior Auto Repair and The Nussbaum Group (#926.)
The Fremont Arts Council, along with the Chamber, sought methods to mitigate (and maximize) the effects of changing the start time of the annual Solstice Parade –from Noon to 3p (#916 & #921.)
Entertainment came from Arouet Productions’ ‘The Hen Night Epiphany’ at Stone Soup’s DownStage Theatre (#920,) and at West of Lenin M. Burke Walker directed ‘Master Harold…And The Boys’ (#923.) And, for the 10th year, Moisture Festival returned to Fremont to entertain and enliven everyone (#922 & #924.)
April
The month began with a pilot Seattle Public Library Neighborhood History Project focused on Fremont (#927.) Readers also met ‘The Top Of The Universe,’ the new name for Upper Fremont promoted by businesses like Ha! and Pecado Bueno (#929.) Alyson Enger, of Hale’s Ales Brewery, shared information on their venues for parties and gatherings in West Fremont (#932.)
In 2013, the Lake Union District Council spent several meetings considering street improvement projects (#931.) Also, this year, a large group of Seattleites, including some here in Fremont, succeeded in putting the Seattle City Council into districts – thanks to voters passing Charter Amendment 19 (#935, & #1011)!
Also, readers found out about guerilla gardener, and Fremont resident, Juan Casanova, thanks to contributing writer (and also resident,) Bill Crossman (#934.)
May
Following Moisture Festival, Hale’s hosted Frank Olivier’s Twisted Cabaret & Pandemonium Vaudeville (#938,) and a ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ fundraiser for pediatric cancers (#951.) The Fremont Sunday Market, and organizers Jon Hegeman and Ryan Reiter-Hegeman, hosted the Mobile Food Rodeo (#953.) And the Fremont Abbey continued hosting amazing musical shows, including Laura Cortese (#947.)
Makerhaus moved into Fremont this year (#941,) Lynn Livesley returned to help grow Literacy Source (#944,) and the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club continued to provide great care – and educational assistance – to our youth after-school (#950.)
The development of the uber-green Stone34 building continued, along with a partnership with B.F. Day Elementary School (#948.)
June, a.k.a. Fremont Month
The Fremont Chamber Fremont Fair, produced by Bold Hat, and the Solstice Parade, produced by the Arts Council, monopolize attention every year (#945.) This time out, Zero Waste Seattle added more creativity (#952,) Gyan Davies and Christie Wolf organized the Green Hat (#955,) and Daylight Masons #232 once again supported live music, and musicians, at the Fair (#958.) Bill Crossman introduced (#957) several more Fremont residents – Laura Chadwick, Hershell Prather, Wayne Ristow, Linda Olson (and Billy,) Wes & Melissa Stern, and John Crosby – who shared their experiences of the Fair. And the Seattle Art Car Blowout raised much needed money (#943) by having attendees vote on their favorite car.
B.F. Day art teacher Tamara Nelson continued the tile mural wall art with her students (#954.) Resident Christian Silk, who has led the effort to build Fremont Greenways, also began a campaign to create safe crossings for pedestrians across N 39th St (#962.) Local photographer LaRae Lobdell captured some people in the Seattle theater scene (#956.) The Backdoor hosted a fundraiser for Lifelong AIDS Alliance, with a Men’s Swimsuit & Underwear Show (#960.)
To add to all the other merriment, Peter Glick, of the Fremont Fire Pit, organized the first Fremont BBQ Competition, and History House hosted Patches Pals from everywhere, along with Bob Newman, as the City of Seattle renamed one block of N 34th St as J.P. Patches Place.
July
The Fremont Branch of Seattle Public Library began quarterly, live poetry readings this month (#964, & #1004) while the Fremont Chamber began putting pressure on Seattle City Light to stop the rash of power outages in the business district (#965.) On behalf of the Chamber, graphic designer Michele Savelle updated six of our iconic Hysterical Markers (#969.)
This month saw the 21st year of the Fremont Outdoor Movies (#966,) although we lost the Zombie Walk when the City of Seattle declared it a ‘sporting event’ required to pay a sports tax (also #965.) Community summer picnics, and a short youth camp, were hosted by Hallows Church (#967,) and resident Wes Moore.
Fundraising for the Arts Council has been a major concern of this organization most of this year, particularly at its July meeting (#970.) However, since January, an effort led by Sonia Telesco, funded by a Chamber grant, to have a donation box built by artist Kevin Pettelle and installed at the Fremont Troll has brought in significant funds for maintaining the sculpture, and potentially installing a Troll Cam someday (#1022.)
At the Chamber Picnic-In-The-Park in June (#961,) Peter Schrappen of the Northwest Marine Trade Association asked candidates some hard questions. In July, he helped readers learn about efforts within the City of Seattle Department of Planning & Development to regulate, and possibly remove, Seattle’s iconic houseboats (#974.) This led others, including members of the Lake Union LiveAboard Association, to share their stories on why we need to save our houseboats (#985 & #986.)
This month, the Fremont Rotary said farewell to Mark Steelquist, and welcomed new president Al Souza (#972,) and readers also met the lovely, talented and very overworked actress Billie Wildrick (#976.)
August
Groundspeak gave Fremonsters more reasons to walk the ‘hood by building a GeoTour here (#980,) for its annual Geocaching Block Party. The Chamber took us out on the road, and Lake Union, with its Ducks & Dogs event (#982.) Rex Hohlbien shared stories from his photo-journalism site ‘Homeless In Seattle’ and on why we need to ‘just say hello’ (#983.)
Members of the Solstice Cyclists met members of the Arts Council to discuss the parade (#984.) New contributor, and Fremont resident, Faith Cooley shared information on the Hazel Heights P-Patch, and the broad number of volunteers involved (#988.)
September
For a few weeks in August (#979,) it looked like Fremont had fewer events – then we had the High Times U.S. Cannibus Cup and the Chamber Wiffle Ball Tournament, plus the annual Fremont Oktoberfest (#997,) just to assure us we still know how to party! The month started with the Fremont First Friday Art Walk and a show at Pel’Meni Dumpling Tzar for Erika Jones, and her new art book ‘Inkasana’ (#989,) and the month ended with ‘Up With People,’ sponsored in part by the Fremont Rotary (#989.) We were also given the Goddess Festival, produced by Tara Shuttleworth (#992,) and a dinner, and education, with Seattle Blind Café at the Fremont Baptist Church (#993.) Oh, and the Arts Council lit the night with its Luminata Walk (#995.)
At Oktoberfest, David Roman and Ian Stone entertain crowds with pumpkin art, but for Fremocentrist.com they also shared their personal stories on being rental residents here (#996.) Art was also created by our kids through the Kidz4Art classes (#994,) and local developer – and artist – Brian Regan (#1000.)
October
Two new theater producers brought their productions to Fremont this month – Zachariah Robinson with Playwrights’ Theater and ‘Mirror Images’ (#1001,) and Corey McDaniels with Theatre22 and ‘The 5th Of July’ (#1002.) Rob Bradley, while promoting Frame Up Studio and the Art Walk, talked about the history of this long-time Fremont mainstay (#1003, & #981.) Newly relocated Outcast & Company brought more art to Fremont (#1007,) and the know-how on casting fine jewelry (#1008.)
On the activist side, Fremont resident and concerned parent Carol Magallanes wrote a persuasive ask for help in keeping B.F. Day open (#1005.) Brown Paper Tickets (winner of Fremont’s Best 2012,) and lots of local volunteers have been pursuing low-frequency radio station for our area (#1012.)
Oh, and on the last day of the month, over 120 local businesses handed out treats to tots (#1013,) while Maque daVis and his minions created a celebration of the Troll’s Birthday (#1022.)
November
While still not done, the month began with a grand opening of the rebuilt Fire Station 9 and dedication of new art, by artist Peter Reiquam, which readers knew about back in August (#977.) We’ve also had Brett Shelby teach how to speak dog at the library (#1014,) Paisley Gray, Todd Gray and Tammy Haugen share about ‘Karaokegrass’ at Nectar Lounge, and Book-It Repertory Theatre bring ‘Jesus’ Son’ to West of Lenin (#1017.) Not to be out done, Gabriela Condrea (#1018) packed ‘em in with ‘Tango Speed DatingTM’ at The Barrel Thief, and promises to return in January.
Heading into winter, Bastyr’s Dr. Amy Davis shared ways to deal with depression (#1020,) and Fremont Chamber members (and Fremont residents) Sean Erhardt and Rodman Miller told why they serve (#1021.)
Pick-And-Choose
Choosing Fremont’s Best will be daunting, and difficult. Think about it as acknowledging three, out of hundreds, as examples of the amazing activities that happen here.
Please vote for your choice for Fremont’s Best in 2013 – Best Resident, Best Business and Best Project/Organization – either for someone/thing listed here, or for something forgotten or unacknowledged entirely. One vote per e-mail address will be accepted at instigator@box2219.temp.domains
Thanks for taking part!
Related Articles
- Vote For Fremont’s Best For 2012
- by Kirby Lindsay, November 16, 2012
- ‘What Are You Doing For The 25th Solstice Parade?’
- by Kirby Lindsay, June 19, 2013
©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.