Those of you who have been paying attention—and we have empirical evidence that that includes at least ten of you, along with the editors, and the army of foreign hackers who bombard us with spam—know that Wallyhood held the first quarterly writers’ meeting of 2024 at the Blue Star Café and Pub last week. We had a nice turnout, given that it was Fat Tuesday as well as the night before Valentine’s Day. People who showed up were treated to the ever-popular and exceedingly nutritious beer-tater tot combo, which was worth the price of admission by itself.
The primary goal of the editors was to follow through on a commitment we made last year to writers and others who are interested in the continued health of the Wallyhood blog, to hold quarterly meetings and to personalize, at least a little, the relationship we have with our readers. However, we also view it as a good opportunity to engage with our writers in an informal atmosphere and solicit/develop stories for the blog. In doing so, we also get a general sense of what’s going on around the neighborhood and what is capturing the attention and ire of its residents.
At our meetup, some of the topics that arose ranged from commercial and residential crime and vandalism, venerable old retail establishments and new openings around the area, local politics and representation, community events like the Kiddie Parade, and the usual gossip and innuendo that targeted those of you who weren’t in attendance.
We were joined at the meeting by Daniel Nguyen, who has taken over the helm of the Wallingford Branch of the Seattle Public Library. In the future, we will hopefully feature an article on our little library and the challenges that lie ahead, but we were gratified that Daniel took the time to engage with us and strengthen the connection to all of you. Daniel did comment that the city library system is facing headwinds, many related to (surprise!) funding and staffing. There are implications for Wallingford, and most certainly more to come. Stay tuned!
All in all, it was a pleasant and modestly productive evening. A little beer and a few tater tots were consumed. We did receive some commitments for a few stories, and even a volunteer to join our grizzled team of editors. Some folks discussed teaming up on topics of common interest. We still could use some help with site infrastructure, including things like a treasurer and assistance with behind-the-scenes blog management. Contact us if any of this interests you!
We hope that those of you unable to attend will consider joining us in a few months when we reconvene. But until then, please feel free to correspond with us with ideas, comments, and criticism.
Thank you all for giving your time and talent to keep Wallyhood alive and well. I have volunteered on Tuesdays for the past year at the food bank that shares the building with the library. I cannot say enough good things about Daniel Nguyen and his commitment at the Wallingford Library. The library is a place for everyone, and he came out and shared with me that they do have items for folks such as socks, underwear, gloves for folks in need. I just see the library as more than just a place for books. They have been a place for free covid test kits this past year as well. I think we need to fight for our small library to stay in our community. With prices so high I know folks are looking for ways to save and using the library is just one of the ways. Again, Daniel and his staff are very welcoming, and I love the fact that he showed up to advocate for our library. Keep up the good work and realize sometimes you must wonder if folks are paying attention to what you are doing. I learned a long time ago, if you hear nothing from the community, you are doing a great job. You only hear when you are not.