by Nimra Ahmad
New street safety improvements are coming to Beacon Hill, focusing on improving non-vehicle modes of transportation. Specifically, these upgrades are aimed at creating a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists — a long-awaited moment for neighborhood and safe street advocates, who have sought these and other street improvements for years.
Continue reading New Bike and Pedestrian Protections Are Coming to Beacon Hillby Amanda Sorell
The Beacon Food Forest, a 7-acre haven in Beacon Hill’s Jefferson Park, is built on the principle of providing an inclusive place for “all people” and “all species.” Signage welcomes visitors to the forest, where “open harvest” is encouraged, and paths weave past blooming flowers, between abundant gardens, and below rows of fruit trees. Community Relations Director Priya Marita Diaz says the food forest is a “space where people find their nook,” whether those visitors are gardeners, foragers, herbalists, crafters, or groups who just want a peaceful place to meet outdoors. “We have this freedom to express ourselves in the space and use it for healing and building community and coming together,” Diaz said.
Continue reading The Beacon Food Forest Belongs to Everybody: BIPOC Leadership Cultivates Equity and Accessibilityby Alex Garland
It was early, but Elias Benitez was excited; the doors to MacPherson’s Fruit & Produce were reopening in 30 minutes. MacPherson’s grand reopening took place Saturday, March 9, after six months of closure. In September of last year, owner Greg MacPherson decided to retire and close the produce stand that had been a mainstay in Beacon Hill for 40 years.
Continue reading Beacon Hill Produce Stand MacPherson’s Reopensby Ivan Montes
How often do you walk out of a grocery store, see someone canvassing or tabling outside, and then hustle the other way to try to avoid having to engage with them? I don’t blame you. I’ve done that too.
But now I’m the guy in front of your grocery store with a clipboard. Honestly, it’s often the best place to reach people. I don’t need you to sign anything, but I do want you to have a healthy home and more affordable energy bills. And I can connect you to often free and low-cost ways to get some basic home improvements through programs you probably never knew existed.
Continue reading OPINION | All Washington Communities Need Energy Navigators Like We Have in Beacon Hillby Agueda Pacheco Flores
The holiday frenzy means many of us cook exquisite homemade meals for our families toward the end of the year. While it’s a labor of love, all that work can leave people a bit burnt out on kitchen duty. With 2024 in full swing, it might make sense to take a step back and give yourself a little break. Luckily, the South End has got you covered.
Continue reading New Year Brings New Foods to the South Endby Carolyn Bick
Over the course of the first uncertain year of the pandemic, Seattle’s diverse communities banded together to fill in the gaps where governmental programs fell short. Local chefs fed people. Visual artists gave the city hope. Mutual aid groups handed out masks and water. And all of it happened against the backdrop of monthslong protests and a national spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement, following a police officer’s murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020. It was in this environment that Feed the People Plaza was born, transforming the corner of South Hanford Street and Beacon Avenue South into a community hangout. With an incoming development in the works, however, the plaza’s days might be numbered.
Continue reading Feed the People Plaza, Created to Nurture Community Connections, Could be Torn Downby Ronnie Estoque
This article was originally published on April 27, 2023. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, we are republishing a series of inspiring articles and op-eds that highlight the incredible ways in which community giving, generosity, and compassion have transformed lives. These stories are not just narratives; they are testaments to the strength and compassion that flourish in our community when we support each other.
A longtime favorite for Filipino cuisine in Beacon Hill, Kusina Filipina was forced to close in 2017 due to a rent hike. The Paraiso family had run Kusina Filipina since 2010, making it a destination for authentic classics like lumpia, pancit, and adobo, all in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Now, almost six years after leaving Beacon Hill, the Paraiso family is coming back. CheBogz, the family’s food truck, will open a brick-and-mortar restaurant right next to the Beacon Hill light rail station at the Colina Apartments. Currently, they have an active Kickstarter campaign to help secure funds to finalize their return to the local community.
by Susan Fried
On a beautiful sunny Saturday, Oct. 28, hundreds of dragons, princesses, superheroes, and other assorted creatures showed up with their families for T’Challaween, the South Seattle Emerald’s fourth annual Halloween parade.
Continue reading PHOTO ESSAY | T’Challaween 2023by Alex Garland
MacPherson’s Fruit & Produce, a beloved neighborhood produce stand that has been a staple since its move from Pike Place Market to the South End in 1984, recently announced their closing via a handwritten sign in front of their parking lot. The store is set to sell its last plum, pepper, and plantain on Oct. 8, 2023. The news has left loyal patrons, employees, and community members “bummed,” marking the end of an era for a business that has been a cherished part of the neighborhood for nearly four decades.
Continue reading End of an Era: MacPherson’s Fruit & Produce to Close After Nearly Four Decades of Serviceby Phil Manzano
Representatives from community organizations called for greater community involvement and solidarity in the wake of more than a dozen home invasions and attacks on elderly Asians in the South End.
Continue reading Community Leaders Rally for Unity in Response to South End Home Invasions Targeting Elderly Asians
