Copyright 2001 Park Projects. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Jet City Maven as your source.

North Precinct commander to step down

Seattle Police Department Capt. Cynthia Caldwell announced at the Lake City Chamber of Commerceıs Feb. 15 luncheon meeting that she plans to step down as commander of the North Precinct, a post she has held since January 1998.

Caldwell explained her decision by saying she wants to return to doing detective work. She will be replaced as precinct commander by Dan Oliver. The Jet City Maven was unable to learn exactly when the changeover will take place.

Caldwell became the first woman ever to command the North Precinct and only the second female precinct commander in the city of Seattle.

She graduated from the Police Academy in the 1970s and steadily rose through the ranks, initially serving as a probation and patrol officer in Tacoma, before becoming a detective in the Seattle Police Departmentıs burglary and theft unit. She was eventually promoted to the ranks of patrol sergeant and lieutenant before attaining the rank of captain in 1994.

Suzy Smith, a Lake City business owner who serves as a volunteer member of the Lake City Task Force as well as the North Precinct Advisory Council, said Caldwell will be greatly missed. ³Her staff and the North Precinct Advisory Council are very sorry to see her go,² Smith said.

NE Library expansion update

A Seattle Public Library architect selection advisory panel recommended in early February that Buffalo Design be hired to design the expanded North East Library at 6801 35th Ave. NE., in the View Ridge neighborhood.

Buffalo, an architectural firm located in downtown Seattle, is also designing the new Greenwood Library.

The North East Libraryıs original 7,042-square-foot building was constructed in 1954 and was designated a historic landmark building by the Landmarks Preservation Board in January. The Landmarks board will review and comment on the proposed expansion of the North East Library. The expansion project will be funded through the Libraries for All bond measure, which was approved by voters in 1998. The project will add 8,000 square feet of space to the building at a cost of $4.6 million. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2002.

The Seattle Public Library board of trustees is scheduled to select a project architect at its meeting Tuesday, Feb. 27.

Thornton Creek Alliance to celebrate 10th anniversary

The public is invited to help members of the Thornton Creek Alliance celebrate 10 years of volunteer efforts to restore the cityıs largest creek system at a meeting on Thursday, March 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church.

University of Washington School of Landscape Architecture students will present their proposal for accumulative detention on private properties to benefit Thornton Creek. Designs that are both aesthetic as well as functional will be on display.

Following that, Seattle Public Utilities and Washington Trout will talk about their sightings of salmon throughout Thornton Creek during year-long survey work in 2000.

The TCA will then wrap up the eveningıs festivities with elections of this yearıs officers and an awards ceremony. Refreshments will be provided. Parking and admission are free.

Maple Leaf Lutheran is located at 10005 32nd Ave. NE. For more information, contact the Thornton Creek Alliance at 367-4635.

Farmerıs Market planned for Lake City

A recently formed group known as the Neighborhood Farmerıs Market Alliance (NFMA) is helping to organize a Farmerıs Market in Lake City. The group was formed by individuals who helped to start the University Farmerıs Market. They have also formed markets in Columbia City in South Seattle and are in the process of forming one in Ballard.

The Lake City Market would open in 2002 or 2003 and run from late May to early November during the peak growing season. Farmers come from all over the state to sell their produce, cheeses, products, and possibly meats from the backs of trucks and tents.

The operation is funded in part by the 30 to 50 participating farmers who pay a weekly fee to NFMA. Farmers pay $25 or %6 of sales, whichever is greater. This amounts to a minimum revenue of $750 a week.

However, Curtis and Kinney said that the Lake City community would need to raise approximately ³$20,000 to $25,000 to get the market up and going.² They suggested raising the money through grants and donations.

Kinney did assure that the business district would benefit from the large crowds who spill over from the markets and patronize local businesses.

A meeting will be held on March 15 at the Lake City Chamber luncheon. To reserve a seat, call 363-3287. The cost is $10.

Community meeting on street improvements, Mar. 5

The City of Seattle is holding a community meeting to discuss the resurfacing of N. and NE 50th Street on Monday, March 5 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The meeting will be held at the University Branch Library at 5009 Roosevelt Way NE.

Construction will begin in March and last about one year. Traffic will be detoured during the project. The work will be done between 7th Ave. NE to Roosevelt Way and from 16th Ave. NE to 20th Ave. NE.

Other road work is planned for the University District. Eleventh Ave. NE will be resurfaced from NE Ravenna Blvd. to NE 41st St. A new traffic signal will be installed at NE 42nd and Roosevelt Way NE.

WashDot will also do construction that will impact the area. For about ten days this summer, the I-5 on-ramp at NE 50th will be closed.

For more information, contact SeaTran at 684-7623.