The following is an overview of some of the many neighborhood groups in the Greenwood-Phinney Ridge area:

GREENWOOD-PHINNEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Established in 1947, the Chamber's mission is promoting the Greenwood-Phinney Ridge business community. The Chamber holds monthly board meetings that are open to the public, and general membership meetings held on an every other month basis that feature a variety of programs and speakers.

Each year, the Chamber also sponsors and organizes a number of community events, including the Greenwood Art Walk, the Greenwood Car Show, the Greenwood Seafair Parade and a Halloween Trick or Treat event.

The Chamber is also involved in number of neighborhood improvement projects, including the installation of planting boxes, informational kiosks, and neighborhood identity banners.

One and a half years ago, the Chamber changed its name from the Greenwood Chamber to the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber to reflect its expanded focus, which now includes serving the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. It now serves an area that extends from North 45th on the south to North 105th on the north, and from 3rd Avenue NW on the west to Aurora Avenue on the east.

For more information, contact Chamber president Michele Della Pella at 206-358-1856.

PHINNEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Founded in 1980, the PNA is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving as "The Heart of the Community" for the Phinney Ridge neighborhood - the area bordered by N. 50th on the south, N. 70th on the north, 8th Avenue NW on the west and Aurora Avenue on the east.

The PNA operates the Phinney Neighborhood Center (the two buildings that formerly housed the old John B. Allen Elementary School, located at 6532 Phinney Ave. N), which houses a number of programs and events including the Well Home Program, an art gallery, a preschool, the Phinney Ridge Kids! before- and after-school daycare, a youth enrichment program, and classes, for both children and adults, on a wide range of topics, including dance, music, art, martial arts, gardening and even dog obedience. The PNA holds an annual community event called Winter Fest, and also publishes a quarterly newspaper called the Phinney Ridge Review.

The PNA is a membership-driven organization, with more than 1,000 household members. For more info, call 206-783-2244.

GREENWOOD COMMUNITY COUNCIL:

The GCC represents the interests of residents in the Greenwood neighborhood. The council meets on the first Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. at the Greenwood Boys & Girls Club. For more information, contact Michael McGinn at 892-2131.

PHINNEY RIDGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL:

The PRCC represents the interests of residents in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. The council meets on the first Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. at the Phinney Neighborhood Center. For more information, contact Irene Wall at 784-8731.

GREENWOOD ARTS COUNCIL & ART WALK: This is a community-based not-for-profit group is dedicated to promoting a partnership between visual and performing arts and businesses and residents of the neighborhood. For more information, contact Judy Dolph at 206-784-2085. They produce a local Art Walk in the Spring.

BROADVIEW HISTORICAL SOCIETY: The goal of this group is to collect oral histories of the Broadview neighborhood and record them for posterity.The group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 12:30 p.m. at the Broadview Library. For more information, contact Gloria Butts at 206-363-7295.

NORTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL:The Northwest District Council is a gathering of representatives of the various neighborhood councils in Seattle's northwest quadrant. The goal of District Councils is to foster communication between the City of Seattle and the neighborhoods. The Northwest District Council meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. at the Greenwood Neighborhood Service Center. For more information, contact Beth Pflug at 206-684-4096.

FRIENDS OF THE GREENWOOD LIBRARY: This volunteer citizens group provides support and fundraising activities for the Greenwood Library. The group meets on the second Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. at the library. For more information, contact Gary Teachout at 206-547-9933.

GREENWOOD CAR SHOW: This event, sponsored by the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce, draws thousands of people and boasts the largest display of classic cars in the region with an average of 550 cars each year. It runs along Greenwood Avenue, from North 87th Street to North 73rd Street.

GREENWOOD PARK PROJECT: Local citizens are currently involved in raising funds to help pay for the development of a new community park for the Greenwood neighborhood, located on a 2.2-acre site directly north of North 87th Street, between Evanston Avenue N and Fremont Avenue N. The City recently purchased the property, which formerly housed a greenhouse nursery, and demolition work on the site is scheduled to begin in mid-July. However, volunteers and donations are still needed. For more information, call the Greenwood Neighborhood Service Center at 206-684-4096.

TAPROOT THEATRE: This is a theater group is dedicated to emphasizing Christian values in its productions. It holds performances in a former movie theater located at 204 N. 85th, in the heart of the Greenwood commercial core. For more information, call the box office at 781-9707.