This and that

Trick or treat at Madison Park merchants Wednesday, October 31:  For those who may have missed the flyers in the windows of many neighborhood shops this week, we note that the annual business district tricking and treating event will occur on Halloween this year, from 3 until 6 pm at participating businesses. As usual, there will be a photo booth set up at McNae Park (aka "Triangle Park") in front of Bing's so that those so inclined can memorialize the occasion.

McGilvra Fifth Graders' Holiday Fundraiser:  It's the time of year again to start thinking about "holiday" trees, wreaths, and poinsettias--and perhaps even to consider ordering them for later delivery. If you are of a mind to do so, McGilvra Elementary School's fifth grade class will meet that need. Its annual sale to support the class's graduation and camp is underway, with orders for Noble firs, Douglas firs, red and white poinsettias, and fir-branch wreaths with cones being due by October 31. Click on the graphic at right to get a copy of the order sheet. You may drop your order off (with a check or cash) at the McGilvra’s school office through the end of the month. Or you can mail the order form (with a check or cash) to McGilvra Elementary School, 1617 – 38th Avenue East, Seattle WA 98112, Attention: McGilvra PTA.  Pickup will be on December 1 (though for a small $10 fee holiday trees will be delivered to any address within two miles of McGilvra).

Martha E. Harris Flowers & Gifts begins a new chapter:  The question of what will happen to the neighborhood's iconic flower shop, given Martha Harris's untimely passing earlier this month, was publicly answered late last week on the business's Facebook page, with this announcement:

Dear Friends and Patrons,
We are all feeling the loss from Martha’s passing. Her talent, her courage, her sense of community, her charity, her spirit, her laugh, and her fierce passion for life are qualities that we all cherished. With her passing, there have been many questions about the future of her life work and true passion, her store. I want to formally announce that Martha has passed her business, Martha E. Harris Flowers and Gifts, to me. I look forward to continuing her legacy by honoring her creativity, quality, and commitment to her community. Thank you very much for all of your support and well wishes during this incredibly difficult time.

We are all better having known her.

Sincerely,
Bruce A. Chester

In honor of Martha Harris, Cactus! will be running a Martharita in Martha’s Memory on the restaurant's feature menu for the next month or so and donating a dollar to her memorial at Swedish hospital for each order. Owner Bret Chatalis tells us that Cactus! is hoping to raise between $500 and  $1000 for the Martha Memorial Fund. The Martharita:  "Blanco tequila, lime, agave and Alize Passion Fruit Liqueur—served up with Martha style."

Remember, 520 is closed again this weekend: Yes, it's the usual drill, with a bit of a reprieve in recognition of Seattle Sounders game traffic on Sunday. At 11 pm on Friday night  the floating bridge will close, but Sr 520 will reopen earlier than usual, at noon on Sunday.  During the closure, crews will be setting 34 massive concrete girders over the highway for the 84th Avenue NE overpass, shift eastbound lanes near Evergreen Point Road to the north, and "complete other time-sensitive work."

[Graphic above by Pedro Ferreira on Flickr.com]