We wanted a white holiday season here SOOOO badly, Mother Nature sent it to us in bulk, just to quiet us down. Drinking from the fire hose like we always do during the winter, receiving the 4 plus inches in the last few days has made driving more interesting, lakes prettier, cemeteries less spooky, and tire chains less of a luxury.

 

A few pointers those driving in the Alabama Hill area.  The key is momentum,    unless you've got some nice tires on your car. You'll see the approach to the "T" in the road before Lake Whatcom, where you can go left or right.   Technically, there's a third choice, one that if you kept slamming on your brakes like you're killing a cockroach, you're going to experience while the beautiful Blue of Lake Whatcom seeps in over your Yosemite Sam floor mats (you know who you are).

And while the deliciousness of the deer to the left may be up for debate, her existence is not.  We've a lot of  wildlife that get easily spooked due to the weather, school cancellations, and the debate spoken about earlier, and they're still out on the roads.  Keep an eye out:  deer, like, Star Wars movies, usually come in threes, and this one was right off of Crestline this morning.

Areas to be careful of if you're new to the area that might change your knuckle color:

• Alabama Hill
• Yew Street Hill
• Barkley Boulevard
• Woburn Street
• Holly Avenue

 

Good Luck out there....hoping to not run into you..

 

Quote for the day:

"A careful driver is one who honks his horn when he goes through a red light. "

                                             -Henry Morgan

Labels: Alabama Hill Neighborhood

The Alabama Hill neighborhood has two parks, St. Clair and Highland Heights. The neighbors and users of Highland Heights Park have recently started a blog to try and get others interested in helping to get the city to make some needed upgrades to the park.
It seems like some of the park equipment has been breaking down and is being removed by the city. The good news is that the city has said that new playground equipment and professional service and design for the park are part of the 2009 city budget. The actual construction phase is in the 2010 budget. The bad news is that the city is projecting a budget deficit and they're looking for places to make budget cuts. The city had approved improvements to 2 parks in 2009, the other park has been removed from the plans leaving only Highland Heights. But considering the financial strains of the times, it probably wouldn't take much to take the park improvement off the budget.
The Alabama Neighborhood Association is trying to come up with ideas to help get the park improved. Their suggestions include a fundraiser, maybe a garage sale in spring, or some other creative way to come up with some funds to show the city that the neighborhood is serious about upgrading the park. With money on the table to help the city is less likely to remove the park improvement project from the budget. If you're interested go to http://highlandheightspark.ning.com/ and help make Highland Heights Park one our kids can really enjoy.

Labels: Alabama Hill Market, Alabama Hill Neighborhood, Alabama Hill Parks

The Alabama Hill neighborhood is named for the major arterial street that bisects the neighborhood, Alabama Street. It is perched on the Hill where many of the homes in this neighborhood take full advantage of the beautiful views of the city, Bellingham Bay and the islands beyond, with fantastic sunsets like the picture to the left available to many of the neighborhood residents. Most of the homes were built during the 60s and 70s.

 

Whatcom Falls Park is at the south end of the neighborhood, there are a few small neighborhood parks like St. Clair and Highland Heights Park and one of Bellingham's hidden treasures Big Rock Garden Park with its beautiful array of outdoor sculptures. The neighborhood also borders below Bloedel-Donovan Park and access to Lake Whatcom. The popular Railroad Trail winds through the neighborhood as well.

Students in this neighborhood attended Roosevelt elementary, Whatcom Middle School and Bellingham High School.

Labels: Alabama Hill Neighborhood, Alabama Hill Parks, Alabama Hill Trails

Alabama Hill Neighborhood extends from Bellingham Bay to the north end of Lake Whatcom. Residents on the west side of the hill enjoy expansive city views and those on the eastern side have views of Lake Whatcom. Most homes in the Alabama Hill Neighborhood are single-family homes built in the 1960s and 1970s. These homes are oriented towards the west to maximize their view of the city. In general, streets in the lower section of the Alabama hillside are straight and do not have sidewalks. Streets closer to the hilltop are broad and curved with cul-de-sacs and sidewalks.

Labels: Alabama Hill Neighborhood

Whatcom Falls Park is located at the southern edge of the neighborhood and can be accessed by bicycle and pedestrian traffic. This beautiful, forested park runs along Whatcom Creek and features several miles of hiking trails. The park also has basketball and tennis courts, two playgrounds, a fish hatchery, fishing area and two shelters near the parking lot on its southern side. (Automobiles must drive around to the Whatcom Falls Neighborhood to reach this park.)

St. Clair Park is a small neighborhood park located adjacent to Whatcom Falls Park at the southern end of St. Clair St. It has a small playground and grassy area perfect for younger children.

Highland Park is a small park located on Vining St. in the northern section of the neighborhood.

Railroad Trail runs through the middle of the Alabama Hill Neighborhood. It is a 3-mile long pedestrian and bicycle path connecting Bloedel Donovan Park to Memorial Park in the Sunnyland Neighborhood. This trail runs adjacent to Roosevelt Elementary School and the Barkley Village shopping area to the west of the neighborhood. The pedestrian bridge over Alabama Street (right) is part of the trail and provides a safe connection between the northern and southern sections of the neighborhood. The bridge offers a great view of the city and Bellingham Bay.

Labels: Alabama Hill Neighborhood, Alabama Hill Parks, Alabama Hill Trails