Puget Neighborhood Meeting - Looking At Trails

            The Puget Neighborhood Association will gather for a general membership meeting on Thursday, Nov. 15^th at 7 pm, and will feature guest speaker James King, the director of Parks and Recreation for the city of Bellingham. 

            Mary Chaney, Puget neighborhood association president, hopes to steer the discussion towards the problem of poor trail marking and maintenance throughout the neighborhood. 

            “We in the neighborhood would like to have greater clarity as to where the trails are,” Chaney said.  “Most park trails are identified by those wooden posts with the golden yellow bands around them.  But we don’t have them everywhere.  Some [trails] are marked and lots of them are not.  Some are just weed brambles, and they ought to be cleaned up and cleared out and marked.”

            Director of Parks and Recreation for a year, James King is still learning about the neighborhoods’ primary issues and hopes to learn more about Puget on Thursday.

            “I will give an overview of the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department and upcoming projects,” King said.  “I will also answer questions, and I hope to get a feel for what issues are important to the neighborhood.”

            Tim Wahl, the Greenway program coordinator of nearly 35 years, said that smaller trails within the neighborhoods are often overlooked by the city of Bellingham because the departments of Public Works and Parks and Recreation are focused on larger projects.

            “Generally, there isn’t a plan to mark the little trails better.  I wish there was, but the city basically operates on larger projects that are given funding in larger lumps,” said Wahl.  “But when you have these smaller, neighborhood-oriented things, it doesn’t matter whether they’re parks or trails or whatever, we here [at the department level] have to survive, so we tend to pick bigger projects.”

            According to both Chaney and Wahl, some of the primary culprits of confusion are Puget’s small easements, connecting cul-de-sac with cul-de-sac and providing a quick path between parallel but not linked streets.  An easement is a piece of land dedicated by the developer for use by the general public, such as a trail or a greenway; however, most of Puget’s easements fall on the edge of property lines and are often mistaken as private property, said Chaney.

            “When you get a little link that was created by an individual property owner and dedicated to the public and then the neighborhood grows up around it, it gets forgotten,” Wahl said.  “With streets, the developer’s required to build them.  But when you just do a dedication and no one’s in charge of building it [the trail] then people are surprised by it and don’t maintain it.”        

            Puget’s trouble with poorly marked and maintained trails has been ongoing since 2005, when the article “Losing Ground” appeared in the Bellingham Herald, describing this same trail situation.  Due to lack of interest and lack of a sufficient number of board members, the Puget Neighborhood Association still has not been able to address the trail problem as it should like to, said Chaney.

            According to Wahl, the city is not obliged to do anything with the easements so long as the environment remains unaltered.

            “The city has no obligation if it’s not doing anything – if it were building something or selling something or changing the land, then it needs to do a survey and know exactly where it is,” said Wahl.  “But if nothing’s happening, then it’s all up to the party that wants to make something happen.”

            Chaney noted that there had been one recent case of slight trail marking, inspired by a new neighbor on Edwards Court who renovated the easement along her property line. 

            “Her side yard abuts a trail right-of-way.  It was kind-of grown over, so she and her husband, being young and ambitious, started to clear the blackberries out,” said Chaney.  “She did get the parks department to come out and look at it and put some sort of sign up.  And we’d be happy for more of those.”

            Wahl said that persistent neighbors, such as the woman from Edwards Court, are exactly what the city needs because they express the importance of the particular needs of the neighborhood to the otherwise unaware departments.

            “It really requires the folks in the neighborhood to get behind it, and then if they are squeaky wheels, so to speak, we can mark it [the trail],” Wahl said.  “Until someone jumps up and down and writes letters, there’s not much we can do.”

            According to Chaney, these poorly marked and possibly overgrown trails are what link the neighborhood together, especially for pedestrians. 

            “Makes you want to get out your gas-powered weed-whacker and zoom!” Chaney said.  “We’re not just run by cars – we’re people who have feet.”

            King also recognized the importance of maintaining and improving upon the system already in place.

            “Many in the community place a high value on having, maintaining, and improving the parks, greenways, and trails as well as the recreation programs,” King said.  “[I hope] that the neighborhood can learn more about the park system and I can learn more about the neighborhood [at the meeting].”           

Halloween in Puget Neighborhood

             Puget neighborhood’s sidewalks and well-lit, low-traffic residential streets make it an ideal place for kids to trick-or-treat on Halloween night, according to Mary Chaney, president of the Puget Neighborhood Association.

            “Up at the top of the hill where we do have sidewalks and reasonably good lighting we do get great quantities of kids,” Chaney said.  “Our house, in the last five years, has had between 105 and 125 kids every year.  I lost count after 140 candies handed out last night.”

            One couple on the 800 block of Racine Street explained (as the four children they were accompanying swooped from house to house) that there are many houses and is very little traffic on Puget Hill, especially towards the top, which makes it ideal for trick-or-treating.

“It can be a busy night [Halloween], and a lot of it depends on weather,” said Mark Young, public information officer down at the Bellingham Police Department.  He explained that inclement weather is a big distraction for drivers, and increased pedestrian traffic means the chance of an accident is greater.

            According to the crime statistics on the City of Bellingham’s website, traffic offenses/complaints are the most frequently recurring reported incidents in the Puget neighborhood outside of public order maintenance.  Thus far in 2012, there have been 111 reported traffic incidents in Puget, as noted on the website.  In the past four years, there have been an average of 161 reported traffic incidents per year in Puget, according to the City of Bellingham site. 

            “The word of advice we put out for pedestrians, especially if they’re in charge of little toddlers and young ones, is cross the street safely, wear reflective clothing and have a flashlight.  Certainly don’t go down darkened alleys that look uninviting,” Young said. 

            Chaney doubts that the increase in pedestrians will be a concern because most of the traffic incidents occur on Lakeway Drive, not within the residential neighborhoods.

            “I don’t think it’s [traffic incidents are] so much an issue in the neighborhoods.  And the kids come to neighborhood areas to trick-or-treat.”

            Chaney, as well as some of the local parents, noted the popularity of Puget Hill as a hot trick-or-treating spot with families outside the Puget neighborhood as well.

            “People get dropped off by the vanload,” one father said.  “A lot of people come up here ‘cause it’s so well lit, and there’s a good candy loot.” 

“Bigger houses means more money means bigger candy bars,” said another mother while her young zombie daughter grinned.

            One mother described how her parents live on Racine Street towards the top of the hill, and they had to step up their candy-giving game when they moved in.  She said originally they gave out small candies but realized they needed to give out larger candy bars to compete with the neighbors.

            A young Captain Picard and his mother described how friendly all the neighbors on Puget Hill are, especially in their candy generosity. 

            “I just love how close and safe the neighborhood is,” the mother added.  “All of the neighbors know each other, and they recognize the local kids.”       

            Young said Puget neighborhood is as safe as any normal residential neighborhood. 

            “Our typical service calls are calls that you’d find in any residential area,” Young said.  “Calls for theft, residential burglary, domestic order violations or domestic disputes.  Towards the middle and the end of the weekend you’re going to get more noise complaints, party complaints, things of that nature.”

            Chaney said that the influx of kids does not irritate residents or cause any problems.

            “Personally I’ve seen no problems – if the lights are off at the house, the kids don’t go there,” Chaney said.  “There is always someone standing out at the street.  They [the kids] are accompanied in some manner by an adult.”

            Young was hopeful that this year’s Halloween would be relatively mild as far as incidents are concerned.

            “Typically speaking, with Halloween that falls on a week night we’d be less involved than a Halloween that falls on a weekend, but that doesn’t mean we can drop down our guard,” Young said.  “This is a good time of the year to remind people to be safe.  I just really encourage people to wear light reflective clothing, carry a light with them, avoid traffic, and really pay attention before crossing the street.”

Lakeway Liquor and Wine

             Greater variety and lower prices allow Lakeway Liquor and Wine to compete with grocery stores, according to Steve Ives, store manager of 13 years. 

Lakeway Liquor and Wine’s sales have decreased by 70 percent since Initiative 1183 was enacted on June 1, 2012, allowing the sale of liquor in privately owned businesses and closing down all state-run liquor stores.  The sudden competition from neighboring groceries, such as The Market and Fred Meyer, made the transition from state to private ownership difficult for Lakeway Liquor and Wine.  To stay competitive, Lakeway Liquor and Wine offers a greater selection at a lower price. 

“Because a lot of grocery stores don’t buy in bulk, they don’t get the case discounts,” Ives stated, explaining that these case discounts allow him to sell items for a cheaper price.  A fifth of liquor at Lakeway Liquor and Wine would typically be two to three dollars less than grocery prices, unless the specific item is on discount at the grocery.

A trip to Lakeway Liquor and Wine revealed a greater assortment of liquor than either of its local rivals, The Market or Fred Meyer.  Four cases (each approximately 3 feet wide) stacked five shelves high are dedicated to tequila alone, sporting a range of various brands not available in the competing groceries.  Vodka, scotch, rum, whiskey, gin, and various liqueurs all receive similar treatment.   

“We’re starting to buy local, too,” Ives said, showing off a bottle of Mount Baker Moonshine, “Distilled not three miles away.”

 Liquor stores statewide that are undergoing the same transition are facing similar challenges as many of their previous customers now shop at the local grocery for liquor.

“We’re 70 percent down from what the state had,” said Ives.  “A lot of previous state stores have shut down because they can’t make it.”

  Of the 328 previously state-owned liquor stores, only 166 are on the Washington State Liquor Control Board transition list from state to private ownership.

   Conversely, sales have increased at The Market at Lakeway and Lakeway Fred Meyer since Initiative 1183 was enacted, according to Sue Cole and Bill Pelan.

 “It’s definitely about convenience,” said Pelan, store director of Lakeway Fred Meyer.

  Sue Cole, public affairs director at The Market, agreed with Pelan.

“Our customers are very pleased,” Cole said.  “It’s the convenience factor – instead of making two stops, now they only make one.” 

Excluding the losses that came with Initiative 1183, privately owned Lakeway Liquor and Wine hasn’t experienced much change since it was state-run. Ives describes the owner, Dave Pannu, as very hands-off, giving Ives the reigns of the store.  The manager has taken advantage of this by beginning to set up new displays – one for the Halloween season, the other to showcase new and local products.  He also now brings his friendly Akita Husky/Labrador, Boesephus Jr., into work with him every day.  

Despite these selling points, Lakeway Liquor and Wine are struggling to break even, due to both the remodeling of the Lakeway Center in 2011 and Initiative 1183. 

The Lakeway Center remodeling consisted primarily of new fronts for all buildings and a resurfaced parking lot.  During the spring of 2011, Lakeway Liquor and Wine was forced to close temporarily due to construction.  

“We lost a lot of customers [during the remodeling],” said Ives.  “People found other places to shop.”  

Bars and restaurants make up the greatest percentage of sales lost for Lakeway Liquor and Wine.  Ives estimates that about 40 percent of his store’s decreases in sales come from the loss of bars and restaurants, which now are able to buy directly from the distributers due to I-1183.  

However, recent advertising has helped Lakeway Liquor and Wine increase its sales.  

“Some people didn’t realize we were back in business [after the remodeling],” Ives said. 

While the advertising brings in both old and new customers, a fair amount of Lakeway Liquor and Wine’s business comes from local residents in and around the Puget neighborhood. 

 “I get the daily regulars,” Ives recalls customers back from state-run days.  

According to Ives, Western students make up a fair amount of Lakeway Liquor and Wine’s customers due to its lower prices and larger range of drinks.  The matches at Civic Stadium across the street don’t hurt the store’s sales, either. 

“We have these new pocket shots in mini bladder pouches,” the manager joked.  “Easy to conceal.”   

 While the Lakeway Fred Meyer’s sales have increased since I-1183, the store has not changed significantly, said Pelan.

 “We’ve sold beer and wine for a long time,” Pelan stated.  “This really doesn’t change much.”

 Though sales have also increased for The Market at Lakeway, Cole stated that the store itself is no different than it was. 

“Any retailer is always happy to have a new category of item to sell,” Cole said.  “With any business, it’s a question of how competitive you can be.”

There will be a pumpkin carving contest on Friday, Oct. 26, outside Lakeway Liquor and Wine.  Ives hopes the contest will increase publicity and help reinvigorate his store’s sales.