http://alabamahillasswwwociation.com/

October 24, 2011Volume 4, Issue 4

Alabama Hill

Special Interest Articles:

• Nov Neighborhoodmeeting• The Artist AmongsUs

•

Great Gratin Recipe!Simply Scrumptious

Individual Highlights:

MNAC ReportReal Estate ReportAHA Membership Form

Association

Newsletter

Meet us at Bloedel-Donovan MainAuditorium Bldg on

Tuesday

Novem-ber 8th at 7 PM

for our next meetingand find out about our forest roads. Wehave Doug Huddle, an expert on thesubject to speak with us.Doug Huddle is part of an adhoc groupthat is trying to keep forest roads openin our region of the Mt. Baker NationalForest. He has been the Herald'soutdoors correspondent for 28 years.He spoke to the NW Biz Club about thecurrent budget problems with roadmaintenance and the threat to loosingroad access to large

portions of theNational Forest. If some of the forestroads close, then many people may

The Artists Among Us

One of the great things about Bellingham is itsabundance of very talented artists – muchmore so than in many communities. If youwere fortunate to explore the county duringthe most recent 17

Annual Whatcom ArtistStudio Tour (a very cool event – highlyrecommended) you discovered that one of thefeatured artist – Larry & Peggy Richmond livein the heart of our neighborhood. In fact theylive here now because of our overpass bridgeover Alabama St. They moved here after thedisgruntled owners living right next to theoverpass on the south side up and moved dueto the building of it 10 years ago. Larry andhis wife moved in and build their dreamhome/studio/ gallery (3100 Alabama St.).Larry originally was schooled in industrialdesign in Detroit, looking to work in the autoindustry. His love of pottery overtook his autoside and he’s never looked back. Peggy doesincredibly detailed Russian embroidery artpieces, making their home/studio theircreative center as well as a well loved home.

lose their ability to have the ability of aday hike into some of the most beautifulpoints in the National Forest and Park.Citizen's for Forest Roads spends time &energy each year brushing roads, clearingsmall rock falls so that the Forest Servicemaintenance crews can spend their timeon other larger projects. He also has aplan for how selective logging along theroads can create income to pay for themaintenance of that road. Doug is retiredfrom the State Fish & Wildlife Departmentand has extensive experience in theregion's forests.In addition, we’ll also provide updates onour neighborhood parks, trails and thelatest on the state of our segment of thecity.

☺

Chairman:

Larry Nicholas647-2315

Vice Chair:

Dean Haskins733-2800

Secretary:

- vacant -

Treasurer:

Jim McLeod734-5127

Past Chairman:

Doug Bestle734-2272

MNAC Rep:

Jimmy Kelsey715-3053

AHA Area A (NW) Rep

Brian Walker671-8258

AHA Area B (NE) Rep

Michael Eisenberg734-3615

AHA Area C (SW) Rep

vacant

AHA Area D (SE) Rep

vacant

Next AHA QtlyMeeting is TuesNovember 8th7 PM Bloedel-Donovan

Last Quarterly Meeting of 2011!

Tuesday – November 8th

–

Bloedel-Donovan Auditorium

– 7 PM

alabamahillassociation.com

You’ve probably seen Larry’s work insome of the fine galleries in town, buthe’s also shows his work on tour aroundthe country. This past year he’s shownin Chicago and New Orleans (a couple ofhis favorites). Larry has also been juriedto show in a Smithsonian exhibit inWashington D.C., and I’m sure you’llagree his work is truly fine art.Larry invites you to stop by his studio onAlabama St or visit his websitewww.larryrichardpottery.com Start looking around, because there arelots of other artists living in ourneighborhood.

Pear & Red Onion Gratin

from Eating Well Magazine provided by Nancy Allen

Alabama Hill Association

Page 2

Bosc pears are strong-flavored andhold their shape when cooked, makingthem well suited for this savory sidedish. It's a terrific accompaniment fora glazed ham, grilled sausage or mostroasted meat or poultry

October

Reci e

INGREDIENTS:

•

1 large red onion

•

3 ripe Bosc pears

•

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

•

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

•

1/4 teaspoon salt

•

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

•

1 cup coarse dry breadcrumbs (preferablywhole-wheat Panko)

•

1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-ReggianoPREPARATION:1. Fill a large bowl three-quarters full withwater; add a handful of ice cubes. Cut onion into16 wedges, place in a strainer and lower into thewater. Let stand for 20 minutes.2. Preheat oven to 400

F.3.

Halve and core each pear; cut each half into6 slices. Drain the onion wedges well and placethem in a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish alongwith the pear slices, 1 tablespoon oil, thyme, saltand a grinding of pepper. Toss to combine andcover with foil.4.

Roast for 30 minutes, stirring twice.5.

Meanwhile, combine breadcrumbs and cheesein a small bowl. Drizzle with the remaining 2tablespoons oil and stir to combine. Remove thepan from the oven, sprinkle the crumb mixtureevenly over the gratin. Return to the oven androast until the breadcrumbs are well browned, 20to 30 minutes more. Let cool for 10 minutesbefore serving and then ENJOY!

Page 3 of 4

MNAC News

through October 8th – Jimmy Kelsey, our Rep

The monthly MNAC meeting on September 21

included theusual agenda items on neighborhood association activities. Italso included my questions about possible additional reduction ofthe already reduced by 50% reimbursement for associationexpenses and that associations will be charged for use of publicmeeting facilities in 2012. Good news on the possible reductionis that the same amount as for 2011, $500 per association, hasbeen proposed in COB budget for coming year, but we will notknow until City Council passes the annual budget in December.On the other side of the coin, AHA and other neighborhoodassociations will be charged to use public facilities such as theBloedel-Donovan Pavilion where we have held our Quarterly andAnnual Meetings.Then things got more interesting with discussion of a motion tohave MNAC send a letter to the Planning Commission opposinga rezone request for Padden Trails development. One supporterof that motion appeared outraged by 3 votes abstaining, and myvote opposing the proposed letter/statement although motionwas approved by 11 (?) supporting votes. Gosh isn’t that theessence of voting procedure? My opposing vote was based onthe many positions the COB has announced favoring jobs, infilldevelopment and support for environmentally sensitivemitigation. (Go through the information yourself as presented byopponents and the developer at website shown below). Myreview of the documentation from surrounding neighborhoodsincluding Samish and 5 other Associations adjacent to therezone location in Areas 5 & 6 within Samish Neighborhood, andfrom the developer with reports from specialists on aspects ofthe rezone that had been questioned through the review processindicated to me the developer had addressed the number ofexpressed concerns about traffic, bus service, emergencyvehicle access, and perhaps most importantly protection of thePadden Creek area including waste water and other watershedand land use issues for the ravine and forested areas. The areaincludes many slopes too steep to build on and without carefulland use planning is considered a poor choice for proposeddevelopment of up to 492 single and multi-family homes byopponents.The City issued a Determination of Non-significance for thedevelopment. A Public Hearing has now been delayed a thirdtime after developer expressed concerns over MNACprocedures. This report is written and submitted for ournewsletter prior to the next MNAC meeting (October 19

) wherethe developer, Samish Neighborhood Association and CityPlanning staff will present their views and MNAC will considerwhether to redo the letter sent to both Mayor Pike and thePlanning Commission opposing the rezone proposal. When thePublic Hearing does occur I’d bet it will be a very interestingmeeting. If you are interested in more information on the PaddenCreek area rezone issue including the collection of pros, cons,and proposed mitigation steps at COB, go to the Planning andCommunity Development website;Determination of Non_significance issued by COBhttp://www.cob.org/cob/Pubnot.nsf/frmNotice/4F28590644CAA8A5882579140081508D?OpenDocument