Leschi Stars come out

Henrietta Price has been a crossing guard at Leschi Elementary for longer than she can remember. The working figure is more than 20 years.

“As long as God lets me live, I’ll be down on that corner,” Price said after accepting the first Leschi Stars award of the night on June 6.

Each year the Leschi Community Council recognizes several individuals for their service to the neighborhood, “our silent heroes that give back to our community,” said LCC president Janice Brown.

Price was nominated for not only keeping children safe as they walk to school, but also for using that time to encourage them to work hard.

She’s a nurse, a business owner, and has lived in Leschi since 1962. She has six children and 27 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“I am over and above excited,” Price said after accepting her star award, “because what I do is nothing.”

Leschi Elementary congratulated Price with a message on its reader board.

Bart Evans

Blu Water Bistro owner Bart Evans was among this year’s Leschi Stars for his ongoing support of the Leschi Art Walk, including hosting and feeding the planning committee and large vendor meetings.

“He is generally a guy where, if you ask him something, he will go for it,” Brown said.

Evans moved into the neighborhood in the early ‘90s, and said he likes how little has changed since then.

“I hope it never changes, as the rest of Seattle is changing,” he said.

While the power does go out from time to time due to storms, he acknowledged he’ll keep Blu Water open for patrons, even if all he has to offer is pizza and drinks.

Dr. Michael Bilikas

Leschi dentist Michael Bilikas was also one of this year’s Leschi Stars for his support of the art walk, which includes providing children’s activities during the event.

The “least tenured in the community,” having been in the neighborhood since 2007, Bilikas said he loves the community, and that’s why he first became involved with the Leschi Art Walk.

Steve Mullen

The Madrona Grocery Outlet owner received his star for his support in Leschi and the greater community.

Leschi Community Council secretary Diane Snell said Steve Mullen feeds the hungry, hires people recovering from trauma, provides the annual Christmas tree at the Central Area Senior Center, and also raises honeybees.

“And the honey’s great,” Snell said.

Mullen said 70 percent of his staff has been in trouble at one point in their lives, whether that be addiction or a criminal past.

“These are all people that come out of something, or a lot of them are,” he said.

Of those employees, Mullen said women are much more successful, about 90 percent, compared to 10 percent of male employees.

“The ladies that are there are strong,” he said, “and they seem to have an internal will to do something different.”

Mullen shared information with audience members about the Samaritan app, which people can download on their smartphones. Jonathan Kumar founded the for-profit Seattle startup, and the Samaritan app allows people experiencing homelessness to receive medallions that communicate information to people passing by. Their phones will receive a notification about that person, their history, and an option to donate. Those donations can be redeemed at participating restaurants and grocery stores, such as the Madrona Grocery Outlet.

Mullen also makes his Grocery Outlet parking lot available for the annual Madrona Farmers Market.

Keller Williams

LCC Parks and Greenspace Committee chairman John Barber provided Brown with the final award of the night, recognizing the work the the Ben Kinney Team at Keller Williams Realty for its work pulling weeds and invasive ivy at Leschi Park on May 10.

Keller Williams has one work party a year, Barber said, and the company chose Leschi Park.

“This is really a clear gift to our neighborhood,” he said.

Brown is a broker with Keller Williams.