BLCA Membership

Thank you to the many neighbors who have joined the Boulevard Lane Community Association for 2016. BLCA dues help to pay for many things, including the following:

•  BLCA Membership Drive (every year)
•  BLCA operational costs (office supplies, postage, etc.)
•  BLCA website: BoulevardLane.org
•  Inspection & maintenance of entrance & signs
•  Inspection & maintenance of plum trees (arborist)
•  Boulevard Lane Crier newsletter
•  Spring General Meeting (every year, end of March)
•  Annual Easter Egg Hunt (every year)
•  Bark Day (every other year, next will be in Spring 2018)
•  Annual Garage Sale (every year, first weekend in June)
•  Dumpster Day (every other year, next will be in 2017)
•  National Night Out (every year, in August)
•  Fall General Meeting (every year, end of October)
•  Holiday Light Walk (every year)

The benefits provided by the association benefit the entire neighborhood. Your membership each year is important and appreciated.

Why I volunteer my time for the benefit of Boulevard Lane residents…

Growing up, I spent sunny afternoons riding my bike around the block for the umpteenth time, swinging on our play set in the backyard, and I participated in a coordinated effort to pick the grumpy old neighbor’s award-winning tulips (to bring them home to mom). We walked or biked to school. Most of our neighborhood knew each other by name. When I "borrowed" some rocks from my 1st Grade Teacher’s flower beds (because they were white and sparkly), I was sent back to her house to return them & apologize by the neighbor that saw me do it. Every summer the neighborhood would block off the streets and throw a BBQ with fun music and games for the kids.
There is a lot to be gained by fostering a neighborhood where these types of examples of a community of people are commonplace. We can all stand to be a bit more neighborly, right? We all can stand to participate more in our community. I hope to live (and for our children to grow up) in a neighborhood that looks out for one another. Where folks know their neighbors enough to realize that the vehicle in "The Joneses" driveway seems suspicious because you know they are on vacation. You might think that it is weird that their large screen TV is being loaded up and taken away—because you saw it being delivered recently. We could very possibly be THE DIFFERENCE for each other in matters of home security and the welfare of our children and pets.

Consider volunteering with the BLCA Board for a year—the time flies by faster than you might think. If not for the Board, then become involved in your local school’s parent/teacher association. Learn more about the neighbors that moved in across the street—get to know their kids and watch out for them as they dart in the street to catch their ball that went flying by because they missed the catch. Help the BLCA Board and other event volunteers set up at the next Easter Egg Hunt, and pick up trash when you notice it littering the entrance. BONUS POINTS if you organize a mid-summer block party in your cul-de-sac and start an annual tradition. A sense of community can only exist where there is participation by most. "Many hands make light work."




Greta Nelson, BLCA President & Crier Editor

National Night Out - Tuesday, August 2nd!

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT—TUESDAY, AUGUST 2ND

Boulevard Lane is celebrating National Night Out (NNO) in our community; this will be the fourth year doing so. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods a safer, better place to live. Block parties, cookouts, parades, visits from emergency personnel, rallies and marches, exhibits, youth events, safety demonstrations and seminars are examples of events that are hosted across the nation in an effort to heighten awareness and enhance community relations. Turnout for this event has grown every year and demonstrates that it is a huge success in our neighborhood!

NNO is celebrated on the first Tuesday of August every year in a variety of ways. For our NNO event, we will grill hot dogs and have salads, chips, and dessert. You are welcome to bring whatever you’d like. We are in the process of booking special guests to attend our NNO such as our local FIRE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF and even GUARDIAN ONE!



Come out, have fun, and meet your neighbors!


LOCATION: At or near the corner of SE 190th Place & 127th PL SE

Membership Report

 

Thank you to the 176 neighbors who have joined the Boulevard Lane Community Association for 2016. BLCA dues help to pay for many things, including the following:
 BLCA Membership Drive (every year)

 BLCA operational costs (office supplies, postage, etc.)

 BLCA website: BoulevardLane.org

 Inspection & maintenance of entrance & signs

 Inspection & maintenance of plum trees (arborist)

 Boulevard Lane Crier newsletter

 Spring General Meeting (every year, end of March)

 Annual Easter Egg Hunt (every year)

 Bark Day (every other year, next will be in Spring 2018)

 Annual Garage Sale (every year, first weekend in June)

 Dumpster Day (every other year, next will be in 2017)

 National Night Out (every year, in August)

 Fall General Meeting (every year, end of October)

 Holiday Light Walk (every year)


If you haven’t yet joined, please do (see latest Crier and the mini Membership Form on last page). The benefits provided by the association benefit the entire neighborhood. Your membership each year is important appreciated.

Annual Boulevard Lane Garage Sale

The Annual Boulevard Lane Garage Sale is scheduled for the first weekend of June every year. This year’s sale lands on the weekend of June 3, 4, and 5.

The BLCA Board will not be generating neighborhood maps of Garage Sale participant homes, but you will find a "GARAGE SALE" sign on Page 2 of your new Crier. Attach the sign page to cardboard for strength and post it in your yard in a conspicuous and easy-to-see spot (that you can see from the road). For best results, attach some balloons to the sign to draw attention.

The BLCA Board plans to advertise the Garage Sale in various local resources such as CRAIGSLIST, SEATTLE TIMES, RENTON PATCH, FAIRWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS. You are welcome to post your own advertisements if you’d like.


Clean out the junk in your house and yard, and make a little extra cash while you are at it!

GOOD LUCK!

Thank You Rob North!

   Last year, BLCA President Rob North announced he would step down from the Board at the end of the 2015-2016 term. The time has come, and if you see Rob around our neighborhood, please thank him for his time and effort—our neighborhood is a better place because of Rob’s volunteer work for the benefit of our community. Rob has graciously volunteered to take on delivery of Crier Route #6. 

Thank you, Rob, we appreciate all you have done, and continue to do!

Boulevard Lane Mom's Group!

Attention Moms & Dads!

Would love to know if there is any interest in making a Moms group (and dads)for the neighborhood?
I have lived in the neighborhood for 7+ years. I am 28 and my husband is 31 we have a 3 1/2 boy (Jackson) and a 1 1/2 daughter (Cheyanne).
...

With new families moving into the neighborhood I would love to have my kids make life long relationships and friends that they will eventually go to school with. With the weather getting nicer we could try to have an activity every week.
Anything from a play date to a picnic in the park. Maybe also do craft activities!
Please comment below with your child's name and age and a little bit about you!

Andrea Upton, VP of Community on behalf of Melissa Kuchera

Boulevard Lane's Anual Easter Egg Hunt!

 

 

Boulevard Lane’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt is being held at the Boulevard Lane Park on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. The BUNNIES and a DUCK will be there to hand out candy and prizes to the kids!

This year we will be switching up the fun—we will still have the roped off area for the smaller kids, but we have decided to host an actual egg hunt for eggs and prizes around the park for the older kids.

This community event is a fun and entertaining way to meet your neighbors and get into the festivities. It’s great that we can continue these special events thanks to the BLCA Board and association members. See everyone out at the park this year!

Andrea Upton, VP of Community Development　

Message From Our President

To our neighbors in Boulevard Lane: The Boulevard Lane Community Association needs your help. At this time we currently have an open position on the BLCA Board—the VP of Programs position. And, at the conclusion of the general meeting on March 31, I will no longer be President and this position will need to be filled. At the completion of the 2016-2017 term, Paige Booth will be stepping down as Treasurer. As you can see, the vitality of the board is at a critical juncture. WE NEED YOUR HELP. These are some of the things that the Members of the BLCA Board do for the benefit of OUR community:

Annual Membership Drive


WEBSITE: BoulevardLane.org


BLOG: ourboulevardlane.blogspot.org


Arrange for maintenance of the entrance


Inspection & maintenance of entry signs


Inspection & maintenance of plum trees


Boulevard Lane Crier newsletter


Annual Easter Egg Hunt


Bark Day (every other year)


Annual Garage Sale (first wknd in June, every year)


Dumpster Day (every other year)


National Night Out (every year)


Holiday Light Walk (every year)

As the number of Board Members gets smaller, the amount of responsibility, work, and effort on the remaining Board Members gets larger. As a result, some of the activities may not happen as frequently...and eventually, some may not happen at all.

If you have been able to attend National Night Out in the past, you have what it takes to serve on the Board.


If you have posted on the Boulevard Lane Facebook page, you have what it takes to serve on the Board.


If you have attended the Easter Egg Hunt, you have what it takes to serve on the Board.


If you have participated in the Garage Sale, had bark delivered, used the dumpster, visited the website, had a cup of holiday cheer during the Holiday Light Walk, you have what it takes to serve on the Board.

If you feel more comfortable volunteering for a position on the Board that is not "open," let us know. I bet that room can be made. Contact any Board Member and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about serving on the BLCA Board.

As it states in the name, the Boulevard Lane Community Association is a community association, and the Board needs help from its community. The Board appreciates those that have volunteered, and/or continue to volunteer to help make our community a better place.

Rob North, President

KING COUNTY SHERIFF ONLINE REPORTING SYSTEM

Here are a few takeaways from the conversation with Scott Somers of the King County Sheriff’s Office at the October 2015 General Meeting. Instead of a traditional block watch program, if everyone simply got to know their immediate neighbors on each side, the entire neighborhood would be covered with vigilance. That's it. Every Boulevard Lane resident does a little bit by getting to know their immediate neighbors. Not a lot of effort. Liking your respective neighbors is optional.

For example, by getting to know your neighbors—you will know if a contractor is expected to be doing some work and that box truck is okay being in the driveway. That package left by the front door won't walk off with someone unfamiliar, because you will know who lives on either side of you. By getting to know your neighbors, you can ask them to pick up your newspaper (if you still subscribe to receive one of those) from your driveway when you are on holiday. By the way, Scott recommends that you don't cancel your paper when on vacation. Have any of us met the person who delivers the paper, or with whom they associate with?

Please don't hesitate to CALL 911 if you see anything suspicious going on in our neighborhood.

Also:



If you witness suspicious activity, abandoned vehicles, vandalism, or other similar activity, the King County Sheriff has an online reporting System.

Go to this link:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/sheriff/ReportToSheriff.aspx and fill out the form. Towards the bottom of the page is a list of reportable incidents. Let’s all work together to keep our neighborhood a safe place to live.