Seattle Press on Line - "Rainy Day Center" Planned for Ravenna Neighborhood

"Rainy Day Center" Planned for Ravenna Neighborhood

By Irv Thomas

Jan 24, 2001 -- With a nod to Seattle's world-famous weather goblin, Ravenna Avenue neighbors are talking about the creation of a Rainy Day Center. This new concept in community interaction combines the elements of an activity-based senior center with the more casual style of the old pot-bellied stove era, when folks of all ages came together on inclement days for easy friendship and a spot of hot coffee.

According to Bettie Yelland, one of the organizers, the Rainy Day Center is for sunny days as well. The idea is to encourage a drop-in congeniality that will benefit everyone in the neighborhood. Organizers hope to "shift the emphasis from senior use exclusively to a more broadly inclusive adult participation."

This vision is shared by tenants of the Ravenna School Apartments, a Seattle Senior Housing Program (SSHP) senior residence located in the vicinity of the proposed center. Ravenna Together--a neighborhood disaster preparedness unit organized through Seattle Disaster Aid & Response Teams (SDART)--is also behind the program.

According to Brita Butler-Wall of Ravenna Together, "We found, in organizing to cope with neighborhood emergencies, that the city has many folks living alone and isolated, who have no easy access to ways of broadening their friendship base within the nearby community. [The Rainy Day Center] is a needed function that remains largely unserved by either city agencies or commercial establishments."

Bettie Yelland concurs. "There has got to be a place for coming together, right in the neighborhood, where people can pursue crafts in a social setting, share in potlucks or organized lunch service, maybe dances or bingo in the evening, or just getting together to talk about current events. It would be especially wonderful for those rainy stretches that overwhelm one with depression and cabin fever."

"The recent closure of the Ravenna PCC Co-op," notes Butler-Wall, "makes such a need all the more apparent. Nobody gave much thought to the community function of that store, but now it is going to be missed, every bit as much as the groceries ... until we can get our own center underway, hopefully before the year is out."

Input and ideas are welcome. All who wish to take part in the organizing phase are invited to an open meeting on Tuesday evening, February 6, 7 - 9 p.m., at the Ravenna School Apartments, 6545 Ravenna Avenue NE (at 68th). Parking is plentiful on the street. The entry is at the rear of the building, and leads directly into the ground-floor community room. Refreshments will be on hand.

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John F. Reed	Feb 12, 2003	Ravenna! Seattle	higherSelfemployed!
I'm sorry to have missed earlier meetings! With a nod to the weather goblin I'm sure of "no mistakes" and hey! When's another meeting? Or will this MAKE a time??? I'm the Block Watch Captain on 68th Avenue up from 65th. Thank YOU for starting this!!! Have an eXtra fine day!