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.

Broadview Library turns 25

The Broadview Library celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday, March 24.

A sizable crowd of volunteers, staff, neighbors and high-ranking library officials gathered at the Broadview Library that day to listen to the Crown Hill String Quartet, hear and make speeches, and enjoy refreshments.

Broadview neighborhood activist Gloria Butts received a thank-you gift for all her volunteering as did Dave and Mary Powell, who maintain the library's garden with the help of work party volunteers.

"Dave's our mascot," Mary Powell joked. "He also does all of our heavy lifting!"

Also on hand to celebrate the milestone was Virginia Ziels, the Broadview Library's original librarian.

Just the fact that the Broadview Library is around to celebrate a 25th anniversary is testament to the determination of area residents. Although the City bought the land for the branch library in 1967, the funds for building it were redirected towards another project. It took eight years of efforts, led by the late Mrs. Alfred Von Stubbe, before the new library was finally built. Its doors first opened on Dec. 15, 1975.

Von Stubbe's work along with that of other Broadview residents has left a legacy for the neighborhood today.

Mad Dog Ale building concerns neighbors

When the Mad Dog Ale House building at 10200 Greenwood Ave. N burned down last September, local residents lost a watering hole, but gained an unsightly hazard.

The rubble, which is virtually all that remains of the once proud tavern, has yet to be cleared. According to Matthew Moeller, senior housing and zoning inspector with the Department of Design, Construction and Land Use, the building was declared unfit on April 10, and the owner You Ly Tan has 30 days to clear the debris, and 90 days to remove what is left of the structure.

A sign placed at the site by an anonymous citizen read "Please don't feed the rats." The sign has since been removed.

Moeller said the property could pose a number of hazards, including attracting pests. "This is perfect cover for them," he said.

The Jet City Maven was unable to reach Tan directly for comment. Tan's lawyer, Maureen Mitchell, said she doesn't know what her client plans to do with the property.

Bus rider gets surprise party

One of Metro Transit's most loyal riders got a big surprise on April 25 after boarding her favorite bus route.

Bee Dyer of Lake City discovered that Route 65 had been turned into a rolling party in honor of her 80th birthday. The impromptu celebration was arranged by Metro officials and Dyer's granddaughter, Jahna Dyer.

Bee Dyer was born in Ballard on April 25, 1921, and has been riding streetcars and buses almost from the day she was born. Her father was a streetcar driver. She loves buses so much that she never got a driver's license, preferring to rely on Metro Transit.

Her family says she takes up to six bus trips a day to shop, visit with friends, attend classes and volunteer. Dyer is also a walking bus schedule, and can tell you - without looking - which buses to take anywhere from Des Moines to Everett, and what times to be at the bus stop. Some of her best friends are Metro drivers.

At her birthday party-on-wheels, Dyer received cake, flowers, Metro memorabilia and an official bus driver's sweater. County Executive Ron Sims also attended the party to congratulate Dyer on her birthday.

Lake City Way to be repaved

A project to repave much of Lake City Way is set to begin in mid-June, with completion expected in mid-December.

The asphalt resurfacing of Lake City Way will occur from the I-5 connecting ramp to NE 110th and from approximately NE 125th to NE 147th.

The repaving is the first phase of a major construction project to improve the flow of traffic and reduce accidents along Lake City Way, the state highway also known as SR-522. The project is a joint-effort of the Seattle Transportation department, Metropolitan King County, and Washington State Department of Transportation.

Seattle Transportation officials spoke at the Lake City Chamber of Commerce's April luncheon to explain the project and the proposed changes to Lake City Way that would take place in the second and third phases of construction slated for 2002 and 2003, respectively.

The proposed changes include new left turns at NE 80th and at 15th Ave. NE, bus zone lighting, a northbound right-turn/business access/transit only lane from NE 130th to NE 137th, and queue jumps northbound during p.m. peak times at NE 123rd and 30th Ave. NE, and southbound at NE 130th.

For more information, contact Laura Scharf, Seattle Transportation project manager, at 684-5150.

Firefighters honored by Elks

Lake City Elks Exhalted Ruler John Carlson bestowed several awards on King County area firefighters in March including two University District Station 17 based firefighters.

Ladder 9 Officer Lt. Brian K. Shearer received the Officer of the Year award. Northeast Seattle Battalion Chief Gerald N. Moberg received the Chief of the Year award.

Shearer, a 12-year veteran, steers the back of the ladder truck and climbs the multi-story ladder to fight fires. He originally began his career as a carpenter, an investigator, and a boat repairer before becoming a firefighter. He and his wife Katy have two daughters.

Moberg is a 30-year veteran. His main job as Chief is to set tactics and strategy at major emergencies such as fires, rollovers, and gas leaks. He also coordinates training for incoming firefighters.

Fellow Firefighter Bill Allemann said the two received the awards because, "They're top notch. They make it fun to come to work."

The awards for the Seattle firefighters were presented by Interim Seattle Fire Department Chief Gregory Dean.

Northgate meetings

The City's Department of Design, Development and Land Use will hold a public meeting on Northgate Design Guidelines on Thursday, May 3, from 7-9 p.m. at Olympic View Church, 425 NE 95th St.

The City, County and Sound Transit will hold an open house regarding the proposed Northgate light rail station on Thursday, May 10, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Olympic View Church. The meeting is still being held despite Sound Transit's current funding woes.

For more information, call Kevin O'Neill of the City's Strategic Planning Office at 684-8376.

Non-conforming structure rules amended

Homeowners with a structure, such as a backyard cottage or shed, that doesn't meet the land use code may not need to tear it down.

On March 26, the City Council unanimously approved amendments to the land use code to allow the voluntary tearing down and rebuilding of non-conforming, residential structures.

Structures, which are conforming but house a non-conforming use, such as a triplex in a single-family residence area, can only be rebuilt if the cause of the destruction was beyond the control of the owner, according to Bill Mills of the City's Department of Design, Construction and Land Use (DCLU).

The amnesty date for non-conforming structures has also changed. Whereas before, only homeowners whose non-conforming structures were built before 1923 were exempt from the land use code restriction, that exemption now applies to structures built before July 24, 1957 - provided they can prove it.

The amendments took effect at the end of April.

For more info., call Bill Mills at DCLU at 684-8738.